Updated: June 8, 2007
Pearce anger over Bentley's Euro U-21 withdrawl
Stuart Pearce feels he has been let down by David Bentley after the
midfielder's surprise withdrawal from England squad for the
European Under-21 Championships.
The Blackburn starlet has left manager Pearce a man short for the
tournament in Holland after pulling out due to 'fatigue'.
"I don't agree with it. I told him last night I don't agree with it
in any way, shape or form,' Pearce said on Sky Sports News.
'I feel as though I've been supportive to him. He wasn't in the
under-21 side for whatever reason when I took over the job.
'I put him in, I thought he was arguably one of our best players in
the two matches we had him.
'With that in mind, I rang Steve [McClaren] and said `what I've got
to report is I think this kid's doing quite well. Keep an eye on
him'.'
Bentley was fit enough to be named in Pearce's 23-man squad last
week while he was away with the seniors, although he did not
feature against Brazil or Estonia.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who is not eligible for the next
under-21 qualifying campaign, played more than 50 games for
Blackburn this season before featuring in a `B' international
against Albania.
Pearce said: 'I had an inkling on Wednesday when [Blackburn boss]
Mark Hughes talked to me and mentioned that he'd like to pull the
boy out. I said no.
'I spoke with David last night. He said to me on the back of a long
season, and possible burn-out next season, that he'd like to pull
himself out of the tournament.'
In his playing days, Pearce earned a reputation for being one of
England's most fiercely loyal servants, earning 78 caps in 12-year
international career.
He believes wearing the Three Lions does not matter as much to
players nowadays.
'It means everything to play to play for England - when it suits,'
he said.
'For me, representing your country is not about what suits you,
it's about what suits your country, whether it be on the sporting
field, whether it be in the armed forces.
'When your country comes calling, you put them first and yourself
second.'
He added: 'I come from a couple of generations away from David's
age.
'I did try to explain the situation: `Where does that leave you
next summer if you get in the full squad and have a full season? Do
you say I'm going to be fatigued for the next season?'
Players can only be replaced as a result of injury, so Pearce has
been left with a squad of 22 for the finals, with England starting
their campaign against Czech Republic on Monday.
'I tried to point out to him I can't pull another player into the
squad so England as a national side have got to go a player light,'
Pearce said.
'I also mentioned I've got [Nigel] Reo-Coker and [James] Milner,
you name it, they're all in the same position on the back of a long
season but want to be here and want to be representing their
country.
'From my point of view, to say I'm disappointed is a massive
understatement.
'The fact of the matter is these tournaments come around not within
the season, they come around in the summer.
'From my experience having represented the country, you might spend
maybe seven, eight, nine seasons in a row [on international duty] -
the [Frank] Lampards, the [John] Terrys - they all do that.
'That's what players are aspiring to do. If you play every summer
in some way, shape or form, it means you're representing your
country either at big tournaments or qualifiers.
'I tried to point out all the plusses - the fact he's never played
in a big tournament before.
'He's never represented the country at full level either. For me,
it would be a great grounding.'
Pearce is already without Arsenal striker Theo Walcott due to a
shoulder injury, and Gabriel Agbonlahor could not be contacted to
confirm his selection in the squad.